SMU invited to WSU ‘Sustainable Futures’ retreat

The Winona State University Sustainability Committee will host a faculty and staff retreat as part of the 2014-2015 university theme “Sustainable Futures” from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Winona Arts Center, 228 East Fifth St.

Keynote speaker Nate Hagens, former president of Sanctuary asset management and vice president at the Salomon Brothers and Lehman Brothers, is a nationally known speaker on resource depletion and biophysical economics.

An informal dinner and facilitated discussion will follow the keynote address.

The retreat is to spur curricular development, foster interdisciplinary projects and encourage a community response to the multiplying crises of the coming decades.

The retreat is open to all faculty and staff of Winona State and Saint Mary’s University.

For more information or to register, contact James Armstrong at JArmstrong@winona.edu.

Chamber Music Concert scheduled for Feb. 7

The Saint Thomas Trio Chamber Music Concert will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in Figliulo Recital Hall. The event, sponsored by the Department of Music, will feature Winona State University musicians Dr. Woobin Kim on piano and Dr. Dan Sheridan on clarinet, along with Dr. David Leung from Saint Mary’s on viola. The performance is free and open to the public and will include music by Mozart, Schumann and Bruch.

Career fair scheduled for Oct. 2

All students are invited to attend the career fair on Wednesday, Oct. 2. This annual fall event is sponsored by the offices of Career Services at Saint Mary’s, Winona State University and Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical.

The career fair is open to all students, freshmen through seniors, who are exploring career options or looking for internship and job opportunities. Participants can speak with employers about their organization in general, about coursework and extracurricular activities that are helpful or necessary for entry into certain fields, or about specific opportunities within their organization, including internships, summer jobs, and permanent positions. No pre-registration is required for students.

The fair will run 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at WSU’s McCown Gymnasium. Interviews will be held Thursday, Oct. 3.

The shuttle van departs Toner Student Center’s turnaround at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and returns to SMU at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

For more information about this fair and other fairs, visit the Career Services & Internship Office in Room 70, Griffin Hall, or www.smumn.edu/csifairs.

‘Bidder 70’ film about climate activist is April 22 at WSU

“Bidder 70,” a new documentary about climate activist Tim DeChristopher, will be shown Monday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. in WSU’s Somsen Hall auditorium. The feature-length movie is a film festival favorite. It chronicles DeChristopher’s civil disobedience during an auction for federal land in Utah, which landed him in federal prison for 21 months. He is being released April 21. After the screening, DeChristopher will speak to audiences online, from Salt Lake City, and conduct a live Q & A.

Invitation to Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Sale today

Winona State University will host a fair trade sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, Friday, Nov. 2, in the Art Tye Lounge of Kryzsko Commons. Connect with artisans from around the world to view and purchase handcrafted products.

Kowles to give presentation at Winona State University

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus in Biology, will give a presentation at Winona State University on Friday, April 13. The topic of his talk is “The Fountain of Youth — Possible or Not.” Kowles will discuss the possibilities, which is a segment of his book, “The Wonder of Genetics.”

‘A Confluence of Voices V’ planned for today, Nov. 4

Student poets from Saint Mary’s and Winona State will gather to read and share their original work at the Mugby Junction Coffee House, 451 Huff St., at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, for “A Confluence of Voices V.” Poets Ken McCullough (from SMU) and Jim Armstrong (from WSU) will host the event, which is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own work to share.

‘A Confluence of Voices V’ planned for Nov. 4

Student poets from Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University will gather to read and share their original work at the Mugby Junction Coffee House, 451 Huff St., at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, for “A Confluence of Voices V.” Poets Ken McCullough (from SMU) and Jim Armstrong (from WSU) will host the event, which is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own work to share.

Kowles to give seminar at WSU

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus in biology, will give a presentation at Winona State University on Friday, Oct. 21. The title of his talk is “Fortuitous Events in Researching Amazing Maize.” Kowles will discuss two large research projects conducted at Saint Mary’s with a number of biology student researchers. He will emphasize that capitalizing on fortuitous events can lead to important results.

SMU, WSU jazz groups join forces to help families in need

The Saint Mary's University Jazz Combo I

The WSU Jazz Ensemble

Jazz students from Saint Mary’s and Winona State are combining talents to help Winona-area families in need through “Jazz For Winona — Live United.”

The benefit concert — which will involve both SMU and WSU big bands and combos under the direction of Drs. John Paulson and Rich MacDonald — is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at Signatures Event Center, 22852 County Road 17.

Two WSU combos will kick off the evening followed, by the Winona State University Jazz Ensemble. Their set will include: “Soon” by George Gershwin, arranged by Don Schamber; “La Fiesta” by Chick Corea, arranged by Michael Philip Mossman; “Dizzying” by Ryan Kisor, arranged by Bob Washut; “Yesterdays” by Jerome Kern, arranged by Mark Taylor; “That’s a Good Question,” composed and arranged by Dan Kallman and commissioned for the WSU Jazz Ensemble in spring 2011; and “Hey, That’s My Bike,” composed and arranged by Brad Turner. Featured student soloists include: Ross Nixon on sax; Kelly Mason on trumpet; Jase Ginkel on trombone; and Kelly Blau on guitar.

Saint Mary’s Jazz Combo I will perform jazz classics like Horace Silver’s “The Preacher,” “I'll Take Romance” and the cool bossa “Speak Low” by Kurt Weil. Alto saxophonist Markiese Russell and tenor saxophonist Ben Scott are featured soloists in the combo. The 18-piece Jazz Ensemble follows with some great selections and soloists including “My Romance” with Tyler Ringeisen on flugelhorn; “My Foolish Heart,” featuring Katy Kosiek on alto sax; and several other recognizable standards like “It Had To Be You,” arranged by Frank Mantooth. Closing the Jazz Ensemble set will be Gordon Goodwin’s rocker “Hit The Bricks.”

A cash bar will be available, and a freewill offering will be taken at the door. All of the funds raised from this benefit will go to the Winona chapter of The United Way and its “Live United” campaign, dedicated to helping individuals and families in need in the Winona area.

SMU, WSU jazz groups join forces to help families in need

The Saint Mary's University Jazz Combo I

The WSU Jazz Ensemble

Jazz students from Saint Mary’s and Winona State are combining talents to help Winona-area families in need through “Jazz For Winona — Live United.”

The benefit concert — which will involve both SMU and WSU big bands and combos under the direction of Drs. John Paulson and Rich MacDonald — is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at Signatures Event Center, 22852 County Road 17.

Two WSU combos will kick off the evening followed, by the Winona State University Jazz Ensemble. Their set will include: “Soon” by George Gershwin, arranged by Don Schamber; “La Fiesta” by Chick Corea, arranged by Michael Philip Mossman; “Dizzying” by Ryan Kisor, arranged by Bob Washut; “Yesterdays” by Jerome Kern, arranged by Mark Taylor; “That’s a Good Question,” composed and arranged by Dan Kallman and commissioned for the WSU Jazz Ensemble in spring 2011; and “Hey, That’s My Bike,” composed and arranged by Brad Turner. Featured student soloists include: Ross Nixon on sax; Kelly Mason on trumpet; Jase Ginkel on trombone; and Kelly Blau on guitar.

Saint Mary’s Jazz Combo I will perform jazz classics like Horace Silver’s “The Preacher,” “I'll Take Romance” and the cool bossa “Speak Low” by Kurt Weil. Alto saxophonist Markiese Russell and tenor saxophonist Ben Scott are featured soloists in the combo. The 18-piece Jazz Ensemble follows with some great selections and soloists including “My Romance” with Tyler Ringeisen on flugelhorn; “My Foolish Heart,” featuring Katy Kosiek on alto sax; and several other recognizable standards like “It Had To Be You,” arranged by Frank Mantooth. Closing the Jazz Ensemble set will be Gordon Goodwin’s rocker “Hit The Bricks.”

A cash bar will be available, and a freewill offering will be taken at the door.

All of the funds raised from this benefit will go to the Winona chapter of The United Way and its “Live United” campaign, dedicated to helping individuals and families in need in the Winona area.

Confluence of Voices IV planned for April 29

In honor of National Poetry Month, “A Confluence of Voices IV” will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Mugby Junction, 451 Huff Street.

This event, free and open to the public, is co-hosted by Winona’s Poet Laureate Ken McCullough (SMU) and former Poet Laureate Jim Armstrong (WSU).

Student poets from Saint Mary’s University and Winona State will read their original work followed by an open mic opportunity.

For more information, contact McCullough at Ext. 8737.

Environmental film screening is May 3

SMU will offer a public screening of the environmental documentary film “Green Fire” at Winona State University’s Science Learning Center (Room 120) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3. “Green Fire” is the first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary environmentalist Aldo Leopold. “Green Fire” highlights Leopold’s extraordinary career, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement.

Following the screening, an opportunity for dialogue about the film will be facilitated by Wes Miller (Department of Sociology at SMU), Joe Tadie (Department of Philosophy at SMU) and Bruno Borsari (Department of Biology at WSU). This opportunity was made possible through the SMU Office of Campus Ministry.

Winona Arts Center hosts University Jazz Night Feb. 21

The Winona Arts Center will host a University Jazz Night, featuring students from both Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University, Monday, Feb. 21.

The event, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will take place at the arts center, located at 5th and Franklin streets.

WSU students, directed by Dr. Richard MacDonald, will begin the evening, and performances by Saint Mary’s students, directed by Dr. John Paulson, will follow.

Donations will be accepted.

Winona Arts Center hosts University Jazz Night Feb. 21

The Winona Arts Center will host a University Jazz night, featuring students from both Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University Monday, Feb. 21.

The event, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will take place at the arts center, located at 5th and Franklin streets. Donations will be accepted.

Winona State University hosts astronomer from the Vatican

Winona State University will host Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, S.J., a planetary astronomer from the Vatican Observatory, Feb. 14-15.

Br. Consolmagno, will present “Pluto and Planets X: Is Pluto a Planet? And Why Does It Matter?” at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, in Room 120, Science Laboratory Center, as part of the Geoscience Department’s Earth Talks Speaker Series. The lecture will address the 2006 International Astronomical Union decision to demote Pluto, in which Br. Consolmagno, cast an official vote. The discussion will also address recent discoveries of other “trans-Neptunian Objects” and what they mean, and the science and politics of planetary astronomy.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, the Big Sky series will feature “Astronomy, God, and the Search for Elegance” in Somsen Auditorium. Br. Consolmagno, will examine the intersections of science and religion, exploring how one proceeds from an emotional appreciation of the beauty of the stars and planets to a deeper understanding that satisfies both reason and emotion.

Br. Consolmagno, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his doctorate from the University of Arizona. He entered into the Jesuit order in 1989 and was assigned to the Vatican Observatory in 1993. He has co-authored five books and serves as curator of the Vatican meteorite collection, one of the largest in the world.

Both events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call Jennifer Anderson at (507) 457-2457 or e-mail: jlanderson@winona.edu.

A Confluence of Voices III planned for Nov. 12

“A Confluence of Voices III,” — an evening of poetry hosted by Ken McCullough, Winona’s Poet Laureate, and Jim Armstrong, Winona’s former Poet Laureate — will be held Friday, Nov. 12.

Student poets from Saint Mary’s and Winona State will read their original work, followed by an open mic. This event — which will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Mugby Junction, 451 Huff St. — is free and open to the public.

Volunteer Fair scheduled for Nov. 2

Volunteer Fairs will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2, at SMU and Winona State University. The events will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at WSU’s Kryzsko Commons and 3 to 5 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room. For more information, contact Chris McClead at Ext. 7268.

Kowles presents at Winona State

Dr. Dick Kowles, Professor Emeritus in Biology, presented “Can photosynthesis Efficiency be Increased in Crops with Biotechnology: The Merging of Scientific Disciplines to Find Answers,” at Winona State University Friday, Oct. 15. The presentation focused on research by Dr. Kowles, Dr. Jeannie Minnerath, and 11 SMU students. Kowles also accented the need for techniques and expertise from a number of biological disciplines to bring the project to fruition.

CMENC clinic co-sponsored by SMU, WSU

The CMENC PLUS Fall Clinic is a annual conference for music education majors and early career music teachers. This year’s event is co-sponsored by the music education students at both SMU and WSU. Highlighting this year’s event is a performance by Native American singer and teacher, Lyz Jaakola (www.lyzjaakola.com) and her troupe.

Today’s Friday, Oct. 8, performance will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the main stage of the Performing Arts Center at WSU and is open to the general public.

For additional information contact Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, CMENC chapter advisor.